<p>Heredity – the passing of traits from parents to offspring.</p><p>Genetics – the study of heredity</p><p>DNA – cellular material with all the information about what traits a living thing may have</p><p>Chromosome – thread like structures that organize DNA, each chromosome is a long DNA molecule (about 1.5 meters!)</p><p>Gene – part of the DNA molecule that carries a specific trait (composed of 2 alleles) (ex. flower color)</p><p>Allele – location on a chromosome that affect characteristics of organisms (ex. white or purple)</p><p>Mitosis – division of the nucleus in somatic (body) cells</p><p>Meiosis – cell division that results in the production of sex cells; egg and sperm that have half the number of usual chromosomes</p><p>Inherited trait – a trait (characteristic) that is passed on from a parent to offspring</p><p>Dominant trait – a ‘stronger’ trait (only need one allele with this trait for it to be passed to offspring)</p><p>Recessive trait – a ‘weaker’ trait ( you need two alleles with this trait for it to be passed on to offspring</p>